Tres Leches Cake

Step 1

For the Tres Leches Cake & Milk Soak

Step 2

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees. Prep 3 6" cake rounds with a swipe of shortening and dust of flour to prevent sticking. Set aside.In a medium bowl, whisk together the eggs, egg white, oil, sour cream, vanilla, and buttermilk.Sift in the cinnamon, flour, and cake mix. Stir until just combined, don't overmix.Split batter between three prepared cake rounds, bake for 25-27 minutes, or until center has baked completely. Remove from the oven and let cool in pans for 2 minutes. Flip cakes out onto a wire rack to cool [i]almost[/i] completely.Prepare the Tres Leches soak by stirring the three milks together in a bowl. Set aside.Place plastic wrap in your three 6" cake PANS and place the baked cakes inside (carefully). Poke holes all over the top for a place for the milk to soak in.Pour the three milks (tres leches) over all three cake rounds. Wrap in plastic wrap over the sides (see photos above), and let sit in the fridge overnight.

Step 3

Place metal mixer bowl and metal mixer whisk in the freezer. You want them chilled!Place gelatin in a microwave safe bowl with water and let sit for 5 minutes. Microwave for 10 seconds, then let cool slightly.Whip up whipped cream in chilled mixer bowl on low speed for 1 minute, then gradually increase the speed to high and whip until stiff peaks form. Add in soft cream cheese, gelatin, and vanilla and whip up again until stiff peaks form.Add in powdered sugar and whip up again until it's thickened and ready!

Step 4

If stacking tres leches cake layers, you will need to freeze the layers for at least 3 hours before assembly. This helps the cake layers from falling. Yep. Sopping wet milky layers weren't made to be stacked, so if you give them a little freeze, they behave themselves during assembling.Pipe a small layer of whipped cream on a cardboard cake round (I tape a 6" to a 8" one for easier decorating), then place down the first cake layer. Pipe on a layer of whipped cream, then repeat with remaining layers. Add a dowel to the center for better stabilization. Add on a crumb coat for the "naked cake" look. Serve with sliced strawberries and more whipped cream on the side.